Harrison Frear begins recovery after car accident and spinal surgery

On October 25, Harrison Frear was travelling to work early in the morning when he fell asleep at the wheel. His ute left the road and rolled multiple times.

“We’re lucky he’s alive,” his father Phil Frear said.

“He was thrown out of vehicle even though had a seat belt on.”

Harrison suffered severe damage to his spine and was flown via helicopter to Royal North Shore Hospital, where doctors operated to stabilise his spine.

Harrison also suffered broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken collar bone and breaks to both his scapulars.

Doctors can’t say for sure if Harrison will regain feeling in the lower half of his body.

“Until the swelling and compression goes down, it’s hard to say,” Phil said.

“He’s just been given clearance to use his right arm again, it go some pretty heavy damage but the doctors said he’s OK to start load bearing on it.”

It’s a heavy burden to bear, let alone for an 18-year-old, but Phil said “mentally, he is outstanding”.

“He is one tough human being, his will and determination is unbelievable,” he said.

“I suppose every father would say that, but everyone down there at the hospital, from the doctors to the rehab people are saying ‘wow, that kid’s got some fight in him’.”

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As part of his recovery, Harrison has one-on-one rehabilitation sessions in the gym for an hour a day.

“He’s been going back two or three times a day,” Phil said.

“He told me ‘I’m just going to keep working’. You only get out what you put in, and bloody hell he’s putting in.”

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help aid Harrison’s recovery, and in just a few days more than $9000 has been raised.

“It’s a bit overwhelming the level of support and concern from everyone back home,” Phil said.

“It’s really flattened me to see how many people care about him.”

To donate, visit gofundme.com and search Harrison Frear, or click here.